‘NCIS,’ ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Wrapping Impressive Seasons

Plenty has changed this season, but one thing hasn’t: “Grey’s Anatomy” and “NCIS” are broadcast TV’s top dramas.

In a season lacking any true new breakout hourlongs, nothing was able to dethrone these vets, which have aired a combined 19 seasons. Both were at the top of their game last week too as they approach their finales, rising about 10% week-to-week, according to Nielsen, and finishing as the top-rated dramas among young adults for the first full week of the May sweep.

In a sign of how things have changed this season, “NCIS” and “Grey’s Anatomy” beat both nights of “American Idol” in the 18-49 rankings as the Fox show’s fade continues in its 12th year.

For the season, “Grey’s” is poised to finish as the top-rated broadcast drama in 18-49 (currently at a 4.1 average for all episodes), while “NCIS” is easily the top drama in adults 25-54 (5.7) and total viewers (21.3 million). “NCIS” also will edge out NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” as the season’s most-watched primetime program overall.

Last week also saw the season’s top new dramas in adults 18-49 continue their late-season trends. While Fox’s “Following” closed out its initial 15-episode season with a seven-week high (2.7 rating/7 share), NBC’s “Revolution” (1.8/5) fell to a low. The shows should finish at around the same average for the season, which would rank them among the top 5 dramas in 18-49.

Overall for the April 29-May 5 sesh, CBS and Fox tied for the lead among adults 18-49 with a 1.9 rating/6 share, and were followed by NBC (1.8/5), ABC (1.6/5) and Univision (1.3/4). NBC, which aired five original hours (and eight total) of “The Voice,” was the only network up vs. last year, while ABC, CBS and Fox were all off by double-digits.

CBS won in adults 25-54 (2.7/7) and total viewers (9.2 million), stretching its streaks in these categories to eight and 10 weeks, respectively.

The Eye dominated the week’s 18-49 program rankings, claiming 10 of the top 20 programs — more than the combined tallies of Fox (four), ABC (three) and NBC (two). “The Big Bang Theory” finished atop the program rankings in 18-49 (4.9/17) and placed second in total viewers (16.29 million).

“NCIS” was the No. 1 drama in 18-49 for a second straight week and stood No. 1 overall in total viewers (18.29 million).

Fox was paced by “American Idol” on Wednesday (2.9/9 in 18-49, 11.26m) and Thursday (2.6/9, 11.27m), which joined “The Following” (2.7/7, 7.82m) in the week’s top 15.

NBC matched its highest weeklong 18-49 average since January, with Monday’s “The Voice” (4.3/12 in 18-49, 12.67m) winning all four of its half-hours in 18-49 and rising 26% above its perf on the opening Monday of the year-ago May sweep.

The Peacock remains deep in fourth on Thursday, but it got a boost from an hourlong “The Office” (1.8/5, 3.51m). And that also gave a lift to “Parks and Recreation” (1.6/4, 2.99m) and “Hannibal” (1.1/3, 2.61m), both of which grew week to week.

At ABC, “Modern Family” (3.6/10, 9.64m) and “Grey’s Anatomy” (3.0/9, 8.87m) led the way in 18-49. The premiere of Wednesday comedy “Family Tools” was modest (1.5/5, 5.79m), and another recent addition on the night, “How to Live With Your Parents” (2.1/6, 6.20m), retained a sluggish 58% of its “Modern Family” lead-in after holding more than 65% of the 9 p.m. anchor in its first two tries.

It was a quiet exit, meanwhile, for “Happy Endings” on Friday (0.7/3 in 18-49, 2.17m) and “Red Widow” on Sunday (0.8/2, 3.41m).

On a positive note, ABC won in adults 18-49 in the 10 o’clock hour on four of five weeknights, led by Thursday’s “Scandal” (2.6/8, 8.07m).

The top program on cable in both 18-49 and total viewers was HBO’s “Game of Thrones” (2.9/7, 5.50m) as the show hit series highs for a fourth straight week.

The NBA Playoffs propelled TNT to the cable lead in all key categories, with the top-rated game coming Wednesday night with the first-round contest between Houston and Oklahoma City (2.1/7, 4.50m for Rockets-Thunder).

Fox News remained a top five cable network for the week, and its average primetime audience of 1.76 million was down just 5% from the previous week, which was a big one for news with developments in the Boston bombings. By comparison, CNN saw its audience tumble 30% last week as it tied MSNBC for the week with 544,000 viewers.